Cloudburst opens London’s lesbian & gay film festival

Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker in Thom Fitzgerald's CloudburstThom Fitzgerald’s Cloudburst has been announced as the Opening Night film at this year’s BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

The film stars Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker as septuagenarian lesbian lovers dealing with the harsh realities of ageing.

Dukakis plays the forcefully butch and occasionally foul-mouthed Stella, whose language is enough to make grown men blush and the actress has described the film as “terrific, funny, moving and outrageous.”

Fricker is Dottie her lover of 31 years, whose ill-health has forced her granddaughter to trick her into entering a care home. When Dottie is sprung by Stella they decide to make for Canada where lesbian marriage is legal, but the police are on their tail…

Fitzgerald said he was “thrilled and tickled that the BFI has chosen Cloudburst to open its 26th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.”

“To me, the BFI is more than a national treasure; it’s a cultural icon of worldwide significance. It represents the best in film exhibition and preservation. I deeply appreciate its programmes.”

Festival organiser Emma Smart said, “This is a brave and beautiful Opening Night film that’s laugh out loud funny. The on screen chemistry between Dukakis and Fricker is crackling and their relationship hugely touching and believable.

“It’s great to see older women portrayed on screen with such wit and depth.”

The 26th LLGBF runs from 23 March until 1 April 2012 and is sponsored by Accenture.

The festival also receives support from Renault, American Airlines and the May Fair Hotel which, for a third successive year, will be accommodating some of the festival’s special guests.

Full details of the programme will be announced at a special press event later this month.

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